JAGARAN CHAKMA

Business leaders have called for the urgent appointment of a private-sector administrator and the swift holding of elections at the apex trade body, warning that prolonged administrative uncertainty is weakening the trade body and undermining business confidence.

They made the call at a meeting with Commerce Minister Khandakar Abdul Muktadir at his office in Dhaka yesterday.

Following the political changeover on August 5, 2024, an administrator has been running the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) for the past two years.

At the event, Mohammad Hatem, president of the BKMEA, stressed the need to appoint an experienced businessperson as administrator of the FBCCI, instead of a government official, so that the concerns of the business community can be addressed more effectively.

He emphasised greater engagement of businesses in policymaking, particularly in the trade and industrial sectors, and highlighted the need to ensure that the federation remains active, inclusive, and responsive to all business groups.

Hatem also underscored the urgency of restoring effective leadership through timely elections, warning that prolonged uncertainty is undermining business confidence.

He said the apex trade body must function as a strong and credible representative of the private sector, especially at a time when businesses face multiple domestic and global challenges.

Without an elected committee, he noted, the organisation cannot effectively carry out its role in policy advocacy and coordination.

He called for prompt steps to hold elections and restore normal operations, adding that representative leadership would better protect business interests and support economic growth.

Md Zakir Hossain, general secretary of the Bangladesh Supermarket Owners’ Association, said the FBCCI has become ineffective under successive government-appointed administrators, describing the situation as one of “lack of guardianship.”

He noted that small and medium enterprises are the worst affected, as they rely heavily on FBCCI support, unlike larger firms that can directly engage with ministries.

He also called for the appointment of a full-time administrator from the business community and said elections should be held without further delay.

Abdul Haque, president of the Bangladesh Reconditioned Vehicles Importers and Dealers Association (BARVIDA), said nearly two years without an elected committee has hurt the